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Free Spay / Neuter Promotion for Cats

The Santa Maria Valley Humane Society announced today that it will provide free spaying or neutering and a rabies vaccination for up to 100 cats on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at its Gary & Lyn Hock Spay & Neuter Clinic, located at 1687 West Stowell Road, Santa Maria, CA 93458. The promotion, called “Beat the Heat,” is available to any cat in Santa Barbara County. Appointments for spay / neuter surgery are required and can be made by calling Santa Maria Valley Humane Society at (805) 349-3435. Cats will be admitted on the day of surgery between 7:30 am and 8:30 am and will go home between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm the same day as surgery. Additional vaccinations and preventative medications, like flea control, are available at additional cost.

Students from Western University College of Veterinary Medicine in Los Angeles will be assisting the veterinarians at the Humane Society on this special day. “It is important for our veterinary students to receive real life experiences as part of their education,” says Zarah Hedge, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ACVPM, Dipl. ABVP, Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine. “First, second and third-year vet students will be participating in Beat the Heat and they will be monitoring anesthesia and helping to recover patients. Only licensed veterinarians perform the actual surgeries,” Hedge said.

Typically animal shelters are filled to capacity with homeless cats and kittens all summer long. “One reproducing pair of cats can generate 420,000 kittens in just six years,” says Sean Hawkins, CAWA, Executive Director for the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society. “Spaying or neutering cats not only prevents homeless kittens from being born, but sterilized pets actually live longer, healthier lives,” according to Hawkins.

Beat the Heat is a project of the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance and is funded in part by Santa Barbara County Animal Services. Owned cats and community cats are welcome to participate in this promotion.

Owned cats must arrive in a secured, enclosed pet carrier (no boxes or pillowcases). Community cats must arrive in a standard cat trap, no exceptions. Cat traps can be borrowed from Santa Maria Valley Humane Society at no charge prior to the Beat the Heat promotion and returned after the event.

For more information on all of the spay / neuter programs provided by Santa Maria Valley Humane Society, please visit https://smvhs.org/spay-neuter.

Santa Barbara County Animal Services, the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society, and C.A.R.E. 4 PAWS are all offering free cat spay or neuter surgeries during the “Beat the Heat” promotion in September.

Appointments are limited to the first 100-150 cats and kittens and pet owners are urged to take advantage of this free offer. Other treatments, such as vaccines and flea treatment are available at an
additional cost. Space is limited, call today for an appointment.